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The number of annual caravan and camping trips in Australia has grown despite challenges and is now overtaking 2019 levels according to a recent report by leading industry body.
The Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s Business Conditions Report for January 2023 signals the strength of the industry in the face of increasing challenges. The six-monthly analysis of the performance, outlook, and sentiment of Australia’s caravan industry demonstrates significant growth across the industry, with tinges of a slowdown on the horizon.
The Business Conditions Report dives into Australia’s continued love affair with the RV and Caravan lifestyle, a love affair that picked up real momentum during the pandemic.
Current economic conditions are acting as protective factors for the industry with tightening household spending limiting international travel, a trend that is expected to see domestic travel remain strong.
The strength in the industry is evident by the growth in the number of annual caravan and camping trips in Australia overtaking the 2019 levels, with 15.1 million trips and 60.1 million visitor nights recorded at the end of 2022.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO, Stuart Lamont, said: “This is a significant milestone for the industry, as it is the first time that the caravan and camping visitor economy has surpassed 15 million trips and 60 million nights.
“These impressive figures not only reflect Australians’ enduring passion for caravan and camping but also demonstrate the industry’s collaborative efforts in providing diverse and tailored products and services.”
“The caravan and camping industry has faced a challenging operating environment in 2022, like many industries around the country, the escalating cost of doing business due to inflationary pressures, labour shortages, and supply chain disruptions, resulting in an upsurge in material costs, overhead expenses, wages, and overtime pay, prompting businesses to increase their average selling prices. Despite these challenges the industry has continued to grow and push back against the tide.”
“We are really pleased to see the industry continue to track along a positive trend, we know the market is hotting up with increased competition from short-haul international markets and cruising. Once again, the industry is up to the challenge with a competitive advantage in its unique ability to adapt its products, services, and experiences to suit varying economic conditions, which will help to sustain its fundamentals and appeal to diverse segments of the market.”
“We expect the next twelve months to remain complex for the industry, with a tight labour market and unemployment rate at just 3.4 percent resulting in increased wages and robust consumption activity,” said Stuart.
While striving for continued growth the industry stands ready for more uncertainty, the Australian government’s strategic trade diversification, including exploring new markets in India and solidifying the Australia-Europe free trade agreement in the second half of 2023, presents new opportunities to diversify the industry’s supply chains as well as open new international markets.
Businesses across the industry share the sentiment from the broader community with concerns regarding financial, industry, and consumer sentiment. This is leading to Caravan Industry businesses expecting a slight weakening of the economy in the next six months. However, with businesses adapting to the current situation, there are still opportunities for growth and success in the caravan and camping industry.
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.


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When Brightline announced that they’d be adding service from Miami to Orlando, Disney World visitors from South Florida rejoiced at the new and convenient way to travel.
Originally, the service was set to begin on September 1st, 2023, but permitting and operation certifications set back the launch to September 7th. Due to the same complications and Hurricane Idalia, the service was once again pushed back to September 22nd. Well, we just got the news that…. the service for September 22nd is CONFIRMED!
That’s right, it seems that the third time is the charm! Brightline has officially confirmed that the train service from Orlando to Miami would launch on September 22nd.
Let's OrlanGO! 🎉
Brightline Orlando will officially open on September 22nd, and we can't wait to welcome you on board.
— Brightline (@GoBrightline) September 13, 2023
One way fares start at $79 for adults and $39 for children. If you’re traveling in a group of four or more, you actually can score 25 percent off tickets.
This is awesome news that so many folks have been excited about, because not only does it connect Southern Florida to Disney World, but it allows folks to fly in to Orlando and travel with ease to the beaches and other attractions that Florida has to offer.
What do you think? Will you be booking your tickets soon? If so, you can grab them on the Brightline website. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney and travel news, so stay tuned to AE so that you never miss a thing and are ALWAYS in the loop. 😉
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Will you be taking the train to or from Orlando? Let us know in the comments!

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‘A different kind of food book’: Minnesota husband and wife team up on ‘Lake Superior Flavors’
For the past 25-plus years, monks have been living in near isolation on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In addition to their quest to get closer to God, they are also the berry foragers and bakers behind Jampot and its specialty Abbey Bread.
At Duluth Coffee Company, beans are roasted on-site in small batches and off-sale coffee is labeled with an unassuming stamp.
And in Thunder Bay, Persian doughnuts — sweet rolls with signature pink frosting — are the thing.
Twin Cities writer James Norton and photographer Becca Dilley are a husband-wife food-travel team that released a book earlier this year highlighting the local foods served in specific areas of Northern Minnesota, Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin’s South Shore.
“Lake Superior Flavors: A Field Guide to Food and Drink Along the Circle Tour” features nearly 70 stops and countless stories between Duluth and Superior — the long way around.
The 200-page book features full-color, documentary-style photographs and multi-page profiles mixed with quick-hit quirky blurbs. It was published by University of Minnesota Press — which solicited book proposals from Norton and Dilley, according to acquisitions editor Pieter Martin.
The duo is known for its work telling stories about food: Norton created the popular regional food website Heavy Table, and in 2009 he and Dilley published “The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin” through the University of Wisconsin Press.
“We like local food stories,” Dilley said.
Two times around
The book was a three-year project that included rounding Lake Superior twice and occasionally doubling back for quick trips to the four regions covered in the book: Minnesota, Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin.
They hit a pasty shop in Marquette, Mich., and Tom’s Burned Down Cafe, a 40-foot trailer set among the ruins of a fire-ruined eatery on Madeline Island.
There was a slice of “one of the best pumpkin pies we’ve encountered” during Canadian Thanksgiving, a visit to the apples of Bayfield and the deep dish at Thirsty Pagan Brewing in Superior.
The goal was to find a range of specialties, according to Norton, chees makers, brewers, fish smokers. Norton and Dilley used a mix of word-of-mouth from locals and online research to get a sense of the buzz in Grand Marais and the chatter in Ashland.
And sometimes, things were more spontaneous.
“We road trip well together,” Norton said. “We’re willing to have a plan, and we’re willing to throw it out if something more fun comes along.”
This sort of roaming led the duo to a sign that led them to a remote Wisconsin bakery, which led them to a surprise encounter with sourdough bread.
“It was a delicious, whacky and unexpected thing,” Dilley said.
Asked for some of the more memorable experiences, Norton was quick to respond.
“I’d certainly never been herring fishing,” he said.
The writer and photographer joined with commercial fisherman Steve Dahl in Knife River, which included an early alarm clock and an expanse of open water from a spot in a low-riding skiff. Along the way, Dilley captured a photo of a gull lingering close to the boat.
The trip made a lasting mark.
“It was a window into a personal and ancient way of gathering food,” said Norton.
The monks of Eagle Harbor, Mich., attracted Norton for the way they take gentle spirituality “and make it part of their workday.”
“Jim ordered Abbey Bread for Christmas,” Dilley said, referencing what Norton refers to as “gingerbread fruitcake of the Gods” in the book.
Dilley said it’s the experience with pannukakku that she keeps coming back to. She described the Finnish dish, served at Suomi Home Restaurant and Bakery in Houghton, Mich., as being like custard.
“It has an interesting texture,” she said. “But it’s also a $3 side dish. It’s very casual.”
And, during a recent book signing at Duluth Coffee Company on Superior Street, they plotted how to fit in a trip to Northern Waters Smokehaus in Canal Park. An interview with owner Eric Goerdt is among the first in the book.
Northern Waters is a shop that could compete in major food markets like New York City, Norton said.
Nine spots in Duluth and Superior get a mention, ranging from JJ Astor Restaurant and Lounge’s fry bread to the Anchor Bar’s $3 locally sourced burgers.
“Lake Superior Flavors” fit into the publishers’ focus on books of regional interests ranging from cookbooks to essays to architecture.
“Lake Superior is sort of fascinating,” Martin said. “It’s a vast chunk of geography and has many different dimensions to it. There are tourist economies with restaurants and parts that are more hardscrabble.
“It’s a fascinating place.”
An unconventional guide book
There are parts of the book that have already, just months after publication, become outdated. Russ Kendall’s Smokehouse, a 90-plus year landmark in Knife River, was heavily damaged by a fire in mid-May — though it has since reopened.
Vanilla Bean, a Two Harbors-based cafe, changed hands from Jan Bergman to Jason Vincent.
And Satellite’s Country Inn, an unassuming shop in Schroeder known for its homemade white herring fish cakes, has closed.
Norton said he knew this would happen. But, he said, this was never meant to be a definitive guide book. It’s about telling the story of a time and place and the people.
“This was an opportunity to connect with fascinating artisans,” he said. “Things come and go and fluctuate. These stories and experiences with food and culture will always resonate. It’s a window into lives and stories through food.
“It’s a different kind of food book.”
Since writing “Lake Superior Flavors,” the Norton-Dilley team has collaborated on the birth of a child (Joe is about 15 months old), and Norton has initiated two successful Kickstarter campaigns to self-publish works:
“The Wendigo’s Credit Card and Other Stories” is a book of short stories that combines elements of mythology and comedy. The project recently greatly exceeded its $1,600 fundraising goal.
Last summer, Norton passed his $16,000 goal to create “The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food,” which is billed as “telling the stories of Upper Midwestern food and drink in all manners of perspectives.
“Lake Superior Flavors: A Field Guide to Food and Drink Along the Circle Tour”
Author: James Norton, photography by Becca Dilley
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press


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Italian leather goods atelier Jennifer Tattanelli is opening a new store at 1082 Madison to showcase its fall line of luxury goods.
Faith Hope Consolo and Corey Shuster at Douglas Elliman located Jennifer Tattanelli at 1082 Madison Avenue between 81st and 82nd streets. The boutique is a two-level retail space totaling 2,000 s/f. The brand has previously had three successful pop-up stores on the Avenue.
The new long-term lease was signed at an asking rent of $550,000 per annum.
Florence-based Tattanelli is know for producing fine leather women’s and men’s products. The third generation brand has ateliers in Florence, Manhasset and the Hamptons, with an outpost in London. According to Consolo, the company is expanding its global footprint and is putting down roots in New York City as a launchpad for a strategic US rollout .
“Jennifer Tattanelli has traveled the world, making the Italian mystique and craftsmanship accessible while maintaining quality, style and elegance,” said Faith Consolo. “Their decision to stay on the Avenue is apparent, continuing in the presence of other designers and world-renowned retailers on this prime shopping stretch.
The Faith Hope Consolo Team represents the brand in the US and represented both sides in this transaction.


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Xbox has announced that it is acquiring MinecraftEdu and releasing a new edition of Minecraft for schools.
Entitled Minecraft: Education Edition, the title is being made in collaboration with Teacher Gaming. It is currently set for release this summer. The title is going to be building upon what MinecraftEdu does already, with a broader set of features.
MinecraftEdu launched in 2011. It’s a version of Mojang’s title that is built with the classroom in mind.
When MCV sat down with Mojang COO Vu Bui at Minecon this year, he said that there was ‘no limit’ to Minecraft Education.
“One of the reasons Minecraft fits so well in the classroom is because it’s a common, creative playground,” said Vu Bui, COO of Mojang on EducationMinecraft.net.
“We’ve seen that Minecraft transcends the differences in teaching and learning styles and education systems around the world. It’s an open space where people can come together and build a lesson around nearly anything.”
Welcome to the DCEmu Homebrew and Gaming Network. This Network of sites is owned and ran by fans of all games consoles, we post news on all the consoles we cover about hardware aspects, gaming and Homebrew. Homebrew and Emulation are software thats made using free and legal tools to play on games consoles. This Network is the only worldwide network of sites where coders can upload and post comments they deserve for all their hardwork. We have a Network that currently supports PSVita, WiiU, Nintendo Wii, Xbox360, PS3, PS2,PS1, Snes, N64, Gameboy, Nes, Xbox, Gamecube, Nintendo DS, PSP, GBA, Dreamcast, Sega Saturn,3DS, DSi, Switch, PS4, Pandora, xboxone, GP2X, iPhone, Windows Phone, iPad, Android and also Mobile Phone Emulation. When new consoles appear we will expand to cover those consoles. We also cover Theme Park News and news and reviews of Beer, cider, lager, wines and spirits.
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Please help DCEmu become stronger by posting on the forums every day and make our community larger.


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It's one of the UK's most popular attractions and Alton Towers is set partially reopen from this weekend.
The much-loved theme park, which is about an hour's drive from Nottingham, is to reopen its beautiful gardens on Saturday (June 6).
But there will be a restriction on the number of people allowed in at any one time.
Stoke-on-Trent Live reported the announcement made by Alton Towers bosses, which said: "We're delighted to confirm that we will be opening our gardens from Saturday, June 6, in line with Government guidance on the reopening of gardens and land maintained for public use.
"To ensure we keep everyone safe, tickets will need to be pre-booked online, where you can also see all the hygiene and safety measures we'll have in place so you have a safe and enjoyable visit."
Among the safety measures in place for visitors will include social distancing markers and temperature checks on arrival, while food and drink sales will be limited to 'grab and go'.
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Entry to the gardens is priced online from £12, which includes free parking.
Last week, Alton Towers - which has been closed for 10 weeks - said it was looking at plans for reopening the main theme park as soon as the Government gives the go-ahead on easing lockdown restrictions.


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SALEM - If you can't always go to a Chick-fil-A, now your favorite meals can come to you.
The owner of Chick-fil-A in Salem unveiled the Chick-fil-A truck. It's only the fourth truck of it's kind in the entire country. Owner Shaine Miles said the truck is a test from the national company to see if the model can be unveiled chain-wide.
Miles, a Salem native said although Thursday was only the trucks fourth day on the job, he's already received an overwhelming response from businesses requesting the truck stop by their location.
"To be able to take food where people want it. That's kind of the way of the future. It seems to be with Amazon delivery and Prime Eats and Uber dash and all of those things going on. So this enables us to do that and get people where they are going,” Miles said.
He plans on taking the trucks to multiple businesses, sporting events and other festivals in the Roanoke Valley in the future.
To find out where the Chick-fil-A truck will be, or how you can get it to your location check out their Facebook page.
Copyright 2017 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.


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The Halloween spirit will visit more Americans than ever this year as they plan to increase spending 10 percent on the spooky holiday over last year.
The National Retail Federation projects seven in 10 Americans will get into the haunting Halloween mood, the most in the NRF’s 10-year survey history, and dole out about $7 more per person.
A record 170 million people plan to celebrate Halloween this year, and the average person will spend $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $72.31 last year. Total spending will reach $8 billion.
“By the time Halloween rolls around each year it’s safe to say Americans have already spent two months preparing for one of the fastest-growing and most widely-loved holidays of the year,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.
“Retailers know that when it comes to Halloween, new costume ideas for children, adults and pets, and the latest in home and yard décor top people’s shopping lists,” Shay added. “We expect retailers to stock their shelves well ahead of time to capture the attention of eager holiday shoppers.”


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Apple has transitioned the South Korea App Store to pricing in the South Korean Won, away from the U.S. dollar, according to a developer news announcement. The move affects both app downloads and in-app purchases.
To be fair, the only surprising thing to me about this is that Apple was pricing the South Korean App Store in dollars, but it will be important to developers and consumer in that country. It could also help Apple boost sales in that market.
Apple South Korea App Store Announcement
From Apple developer news [emphasis added]:
Starting today, the pricing for apps and in-app purchases in the Republic of Korea will change from U.S. Dollars to Korean Won (KRW). While your proceeds from sales in the Republic of Korea will also change to KRW, you will continue to be paid in the currency you selected for your bank in App Store Connect.
This news effects the App Store only in South Korea.


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Every month, the stock market waits for the latest employment numbers to come out. The day before each report, jobless-claims figures get special attention, as if they can provide insight into what tomorrow's more important nonfarm payroll numbers will tell. Yet between an unsurprising jobless-claims number and European Central Bank president Mario Draghi again weighing in with a vote of confidence for the euro, the stock market managed to chart its way to a modest gain. The Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES:^DJI) shot out of the gates with a 40-point gain, and as of 10:45 a.m. EDT, the index sits 81 points higher for a gain of 0.6%. The broader market also posted early gains.
Among Dow stocks, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) dropped as much as 4% in the first half-hour of trade, following up on its 13% drop yesterday, which took it to a nine-year low. Fool contributor Evan Niu put it in simple terms last night: Falling earnings make the stock even less attractive than it already was. But the hardest thing for HP investors to swallow is that CEO Meg Whitman isn't sugarcoating the fact that it's going to take a long time to repair the damage that's been done to HP over the past several years. Until the hard work is done, shareholders will likely have trouble seeing big gains.
Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) is about 1% higher after announcing yesterday that it would hike prices on most of its products by about 3%. As Fool contributor Eric Volkman explained last night, the move comes as the second half of a one-two punch that started with the construction equipment giant's reduction in earnings guidance for its 2015 fiscal year. Whether the price increases will open the door to rival Joy Global (NYSE:JOY) to capture market share remains to be seen, but Caterpillar clearly doesn't want to let its earnings take a hit without a fight.
Finally, 3M (NYSE:MMM) is up 0.6%. The company announced that it would not go forward with a previously planned buyout of Avery Dennison's office and consumer products business. Although the companies didn't cite a reason for the move, the Justice Department was expected to fight the deal on anticompetitive grounds.
Fool contributor Dan Caplinger doesn't own shares of the companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on Twitter @DanCaplinger. The Motley Fool owns shares of Joy Global. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of and creating a diagonal call position in 3M. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Katy Alston - known as Mrs Whippy to her customers in Sussex towns such as Bognor Regis and Chichester - has been voted the country's top mobile ice cream retailer at a national competition run by the Ice Cream Alliance, the official trade body for the UK's £1bn ice cream industry.
The award crowns a successful period which has seen her serve up ice cream to guests at the wedding of England rugby player Billy Twelvetrees and at a birthday party organised by actress Kate Winslet for her husband Ned.
Katy, who operates her business Pinks Vintage Ice Cream from premises in Bognor Regis with her daughter Georgia (Little Miss Whippy), currently has one ice cream van and a tricycle but is now planning to expand her fleet and also open an ice cream parlour.
She said it all started on Christmas Day more than a decade ago when her husband Kevin bought her the 'best present ever.'
She said: "I had started training as a nurse at a London hospital in my teens and worked as a nurse for 14 years in various roles, including in intensive care and as a night sister.
"When I left I didn't know what to do next, but Kevin suggested I should start an ice cream business. He said I would be in control of my own life and bought me an old van for Christmas, which we did up.
"My favourite colour is pink so I called it Pinks Vintage. Having been a nurse, I found health and safety easy but found it more difficult becoming a businesswoman."
Katy said she could not believe it when she was presented with the award at the ICA's annual expo in Harrogate, saying "it was absolutely overwhelming.”
Katy's success was praised by Zelica Carr, chief executive officer of The Ice Cream Alliance, who added: "The reason the ice cream industry is continuing to flourish is because of people like Katy, who has built up a mobile business with such enthusiasm and dedication over the past decade."
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With new coronavirus infections going down, it will be just a matter of time when herd immunity is achieved. But as early as now, businesses are already planning out new procedures and routines in the workplace. These procedures are designed to prepare for the return of employees to working in an office setting.
Here are some things business owners can consider while preparing the workplace after the pandemic ends.
Continue Remote Work
When the pandemic started around a year ago, companies started asking employees to work from home. While some naysayers said this could spell the end of their businesses, it didn’t happen to several industries. The real estate industry may have paused at the start of the pandemic, but it came back strong. Home prices have even increased due to the strong demand in the market. And remote made these transactions possible.
It shows that productivity doesn’t suffer when people are working remotely. Some financial institutions even thrived in the middle of the health crisis. Even though many businesses closed during the crisis, these were retail stores that relied on foot traffic for sales. But some of these stores went online to reach their market.
With this in mind, business owners can consider continuing remote work arrangements for their employees, if necessary. It also allows them to reduce their operating costs since they will not need a bigger office space.
Consider a Hybrid Workforce
Another option for business owners is to create a hybrid workforce. In this model, employees perform their work remotely and only come into the office to collaborate on a project. Many companies are already planning to extend the work-from-home directives they made for their employees. And they may extend the arrangement even after the government lifts all pandemic restrictions.
In this situation, the office will become a business center rather than a traditional office. A hybrid workforce may become the new normal as many employees prefer working in their homes’ safety rather than risking their health by going to the office. Some people have even fled the urban areas and bought properties in the suburbs. This will compel business owners to rethink their idea of a corporate headquarters in the city.
If business owners consider a hybrid workforce, they can use the savings to invest in technology to strengthen their hybrid workforce. Businesses can focus on acquiring better collaboration software and tools that can enhance the productivity of their employees.
These tools can include noise-canceling headsets, monitors, computers, and even laptops. The business can even supply its employees with ergonomic chairs and better desks. All of these tools facilitate the work of its employees.
Additionally, the business should also focus on strengthening its IT department by investing in the infrastructure to make it easier for the business to manage its hybrid workforce. Increasing cloud storage, enhancing online security, and implementing solutions that facilitate troubleshooting of issues the employees deal with at home are some things a business can do to leverage technology.
Focus on Health
A hybrid workplace is ideal for employees who want to work from home. But some employees may opt to work on-site. For these employees, the business should have them vaccinated. This is to prevent the potential spread of the virus, especially if the business opens its doors before the pandemic ends. If some employees are not keen on getting the vaccine, the business may need to form a partnership with a group of patient advocates so that they can help promote vaccine confidence in the workforce.
The business can also create a touchless environment where the employees are supplied with personal collaboration tools to reduce instances of physical contact. The business can also redesign the open office environment and create individual booths where the employees can work. Each booth contains all the equipment the employee needs to work and collaborate with the team. These booths also allow the employee to interact with colleagues in an office setting while keeping them safe.
In addition to keeping the employees physically healthy, business owners should also look into their employees’ mental health. A survey conducted on remote workers from the US, the UK, and Singapore showed that over 80 percent of remote workers put more value on their mental health than the pre-COVID period. Around 80 percent also said they are willing to work on-site if they’re allowed to work from home on some days of the week. Business owners should take this into account when preparing their workers to start working on-site.
Even as businesses start preparing the workplace for their employees to work on-site, they should also make the necessary adjustments to ensure their efficiency and productivity.


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Kingdom Hearts: Unchained χ updated to its new version Kingdom Hearts: Union χ [Cross] back in March adding a new multiplayer mode and new chapters. The game’s downloads keep coming, as Square Enix announced that it hit the 6 million downloads milestone.
Kingdom Hearts: Union χ added a new “Union Cross” mode as its multiplayer that allows a party of six players to take on powerful enemies in the multi-quest mode. It also added new story chapters for the smartphone RPG.
To commemorate the occasion, Square Enix is giving away 3,000 Jewels to players who log-in starting now through June 7, 2017 (at 3:59am JST). During this time, there will also be a special campaign quest going on that’ll let you acquire special items such as “Broom Summon” and “Skip Ticket.”
Kingdom Hearts: Union χ is available on iPhone and Android.


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Konami has released a statement to apologize for the launch of eFootball, which has quickly become the worst reviewed game on Steam.
“After the release of eFootball 2022, we have received lots of feedback and requests regarding game balance that includes pass speed and defence operation,” Konami announced in a statement released onto Twitter before delving into the game’s problems. “We would also like to acknowledge that there have been reports of problems users have experienced with cutscenes, facial expressions, movements of players and the behaviour of the ball.”
“We are very sorry for the problems, and want to assure everyone we will take all concerns seriously and strive to improve the current situation.”
“This work will be continuously updated, quality will be improved and content will be added consistently,” Konami’s statement continued. “From next week onward, we will prepare for an update in October, while receiving further opinions through questionnaires to our users.”
“We will do our utmost to satisfy as many users as possible, and we look forward to your continued support of eFootball 2022.”
It’s hardly a surprise that eFootball warranted an apology considering the state that it launched in, it takes quite a lot, after all, to become the worst reviewed game on Steam, beating out utter tripe such as Flatout 3: Chaos & Destruction and RollerCoaster Tycoon World.
— eFootball (@play_eFootball) October 1, 2021
Hopefully, thanks to the update arriving later this month, eFootball will soon be on the mend so that Konami can have some of their dignity back.


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Sony has confirmed that Sports Champions 2 will be released on October 31, 2012.
The sequel to the PlayStation Move launch title includes a host of new events, such as boxing, golf, bowling, skiing plus a revamped Archery experience. Additionally, Cup Play and Free Play return from the original game, and will be joined by a new avatar creator and Party Play feature.
Senior producer Jeremy Ray commented: “Right now the team is primarily focused on squashing bugs and adding some last minute polish.”
“The finish line is in sight and we are very excited to finally get Sports Champions 2 into living rooms all around the world. Once done, we hope to be able to take a quick breather before getting back at it again with some post-release support.”
The original Sports Champions launched alongside Sony’s motion-sensing peripheral back in fall 2010, and remains one of the best-selling games for the PlayStation Move to date.


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By Peter Shelley, Managing Director, Australian Tourism Export Council
IT’S hard to imagine that 50 years ago Australia’s tourism industry was a disparate collection of tourism businesses with little exposure to international visitors. Intrepid travellers had to cobble together itineraries from afar not knowing whether they would be able to successfully travel from one city to another, let alone deep into regional Australia’s areas with any confidence. What awaited them at the end of a long flight was largely uncharted territory.
It was at that time a small number of inbound tourism operators decided to band together and create a coordinated approach, working to grow the opportunity that international visitors offered and from this desire the Australian Incoming Tour Operators Association (AITOA), ATEC’s former identity, was born in 1972. By 1979, that opportunity had grown considerably to reach 800,000 arrivals off the back of a coordinated approach to attracting and servicing international visitors in partnership with the recently formed Australian Tourist Commission (which later became Tourism Australia).
AITOA’s inaugural Symposium conference posed the question – ‘Does Australia really want inbound tourism?’ Given our inbound visitor numbers have grown exponentially across the 50 years to reach a height of 9.4M short term visitors and delivering $59bn in inbound tourism expenditure by 2019, it seems the answer to that question was a resounding ‘Yes!’. And it seems remarkable that in a wholly globalised society where travel is becoming almost universally accessible, we ever contemplated a time without foreign visitors.
The value of our tourism industry is undeniable, but the importance of the export sector is often overlooked as a vital factor which keeps the wheels turning. Without international visitors, many of our tourism businesses wouldn’t survive domestic off-seasons, many of our favourite and most renowned regional destinations would not have visitors and staff and those communities wouldn’t have the vital economic input that tourism offers. The truth is domestic travel relies on a symbiotic relationship with international visitation and together they provide over $100bn in tourism spending to regional economies across Australia.
As ATEC moves through its 50th year celebrations we are engaging with members across our 8 regional branches to define the key ‘go forward’ issues which will underpin the future of inbound success. By undertaking a series of ‘Building Back Inbound’ roundtable discussions with our members we are looking to bring together issues from across the country to strengthen our industry into the future.
Addressing the sustainability challenge in our own businesses as well as the impact of sustainability on long haul flights over time, distribution technology and how to streamline the distribution process to ensure ‘less touch, less costs, less friction’ will be central to our future. A focus on achieving the best traveller user experience, removing impediments to travel like antiquated, unfriendly and unwelcoming visa processes along with the increasing burden of additional taxes and charges being lumped onto to international visitors that are eroding our competitiveness as a travel destination will form the basis of our purpose and advocacy.
As we move beyond the pandemic and rebuild our industry, we face new challenges and opportunities and the chance to really build back inbound in a truly forward focused and valuable way.


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Samsung has launched its new Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M10 phones aimed at millennials in India. The Galaxy M10 and M20 both come with an Infinity V notch and a dual camera at the back. The Galaxy M-series, M10, and M20 are the most anticipated launches, and the leaks around the smartphones have been quite detailed regarding price and specifications.
Regarding specifications, the Samsung Galaxy M10 is said to run Android 8.1 Oreo and sports 6.22-inch HD+ display. The phone is reportedly powered by 14nm octa-core Exynos 7870 SoC, with 2GB and 3GB of RAM options. It comes with 2GB or 3GB RAM with 16GB or 32GB storage coupled with a 512GB microSD slot.
The rear camera is 13MP+5MP with an f/1.9 aperture on the bigger sensor. The front camera is 5MP. It has Widevine L1 certification as well to support full HD and HD content on platforms like Netflix. The battery is 3400 mAh with a micro-USB port.
The Samsung Galaxy M20 also runs on Android 8.1 Oreo and sports a 6.3-inch full-HD+ (1080×2340 pixels) resolution. The phone is powered by Samsung’s new Exynos 7904 octa-core processor, which has a 14nm design and can also support a triple camera.
The M20 also comes with 3GB RAM /32GB storage and 4GB RAM/64GB storage with a 512GB microSD slot. The phone has a massive 5000 mAh battery, a type-C USB port, and 15w fast charging. The rear camera is 13MP + 5MP with f/1.9 aperture. The front camera is 8MP. Both the front and rear cameras come with a Portrait mode.
The Samsung Galaxy M10 price in India starts at Rs. 7,990 for its 2GB RAM/ 16GB storage model, whereas Rs. 8,990 for the 3GB/ 32GB model. Samsung Galaxy M20 starts at a price of Rs 10,990 for the 3GB RAM+32GB variant, while the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage option will cost Rs 12,990. The phones will be on sale from February 5, 2019.


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Esri Powers Pokemon Hunting Map From Santa Monica's Pokevision
JULY 27, 2016
According to Esri, Pokevision , a third party app developer, used its ArcGIS services to show real time locations of Pokemon hot spots, in real time. Pokevision apparently has been seeing a huge spike in demand for its service, with nearly 20 million unique users in its first five days. Pokevision is based in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Threatens Silicon Beach Growth By Taking Aim At Airport
MARCH 27, 2014
silicon beach santa monica airport airline aviation economic growth jobs Photo courtesy Steve Lyon @ Flickr. READ MORE>>.
Santa Monica Tech Community Grows, As Another Tech Law Firm Sets Up Shop
OCTOBER 25, 2012
beach silicon legal technology alderton stubbs monica santaREAD MORE>>.
Naki Laundry Debuts In Santa Monica With Tech Friendly Laundry Service
JUNE 10, 2013
In the latest services-meets-smartphone service to launch in the Los Angeles area, a new startup, Naki Laundry , said today that it has launched its service in Santa Monica, letting the tech set use their smartphone or the web to get their laundry cleaned. Naki''s name comes from the Hebrew for the word "clean".
ParkMe Formally Launches In LA, Santa Monica
DECEMBER 11, 2012
auto time real realtime parking angeles monica santa parkmeParkMe was founded by Sam Friedman and Alex Israel. READ MORE>>.
Electricitybilling.com Sets Up Shop In Santa Monica
MARCH 18, 2016
Australian cloud billing software developer Electricitybilling.com says that it has set up a new office in Santa Monica, to provide West Coast coverage in the United States. According to the cloud software provider, it selected Santa Monica due to the quality of the talent in the region, and the similar culture to Australia.
Amazon Prime Now Launches Restaurant Delivery In LA
NOVEMBER 10, 2015
Amazon said that the new service makes Los Angeles its third and largest city where it is offering up its restaurant delivery. The company said that right now, it is offering up delivery in Santa Monica, West Los Angeles and Venice, with additional neighborhoods including Culver City, downtown, and Hollywood coming online soon.
Squeegy Officially Debuts On-Demand Car Wash Service In LA
SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
Los Angeles-based Squeegy , an on-demand, car wash service, said Wednesday that it has officially launched its service in Los Angeles. The startup, led by Andrew Davis, let users request a car wash from their mobile app, anywhere within Squeegy's service area. squeegy ondemand wash mobile washing service marketplace smartphone
ParkMe Launches Real-Time Parking In San Francisco [Infographic]
Tech Zulu Event
AUGUST 20, 2013
Data to eliminate the hassle of parking. Over 29,000 metered spaces and 100,000 parking spaces. Recommendation engine.
Santa Monica’s Cornerstone OnDemand Launches New Products
MAY 12, 2016
Cornerstone View. Cornerstone Planning. Users can easily create, manage and execute accurate headcount plans through a simple and intuitive design.
MomentFeed's New Service Aimed At Local Marketing For Brands
JANUARY 21, 2015
Santa Monica-based MomentFeed , the developer of analytics software used to help retailers understand the link between their retail locations and mobile consumers, said this week that it has rolled out a new offering called LocalVoice Community Management. Pricing on the new service was not announced. READ MORE>>.
Hulu Ends Free Viewing
L.A. Business Journal
AUGUST 8, 2016
In a move to align itself with its paid-subscription rivals, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, television-streaming service Hulu of Santa Monica has ended its free-to-view streaming service
Google Analytics Panel wows Santa Monica crowd
AUGUST 30, 2008
Google’s free “Analytics and “Optimizer services were the hot topics Thursday night in Santa Monica. We were happy to host about 60 people at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Monica for networking, dinner, and education . Some estimate
Xfire Launches PC Tournament Service, Battleground
MARCH 5, 2013
Santa Monica-based Xfire is aiming to make it easier for PC game enthusiasts to find challengers, with the launch of a new tournament system, the firm announced this morning. Xfire said the new Battleground srvice supports Call of Duty 4 and Counter-Strike: Source, and that it will be adding additional titles regularly to the service.
Co-Founders Wanted of Santa Monica
SoCal Tech Calendar
SEPTEMBER 14, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012 -- Co-Founders Wanted of Santa Monica - presented by CoFoundersLab. CoFoundersLab focuses on more effectively facilitating co-founder matchmaking and they're coming to Santa Monica! Looking for a co-founder? See [link] (more
Honk Launches On Demand Roadside Help Service, Raises $1.8M
NOVEMBER 19, 2014
Have a flat tire, locked yourself out of your car, or need a tow--but not a member of a roadside assistance service? Santa Monica-based Honk has launched a service for you, specifically to let you summon roadside help using your smartphone--without a membership. Honk is led by serial entrepreneur Corey Brundage.
DogVacay Launches Concierge Service
MAY 14, 2013
Santa Monica-based DogVacay , the online, peer-to-peer dog boarding marketplace, is hoping to make it much easier to use its service, through the launch of a new "conciege" service today. Need some help finding and booking someone to take care of your dog when you''re away? he startup is led by Aaron Hirschorn.
Naki Laundry Offers Up Deal In Launch Of Smartphone Laundry Service
JUNE 10, 2013
Not sure if such a high tech service is for you? groupon naki laundry smartphone service deal startup laundering wash iphone android
ParkMe Raises Another Round From Angeleno Group To Fuel Its Expansion Internationally
Tech Zulu Event
JANUARY 23, 2013
and Europe and recently released its real-time on-street parking solution for drivers in Los Angeles and Santa Monica and Austin.
Vet On Demand Launches New Service To Connect Pet Owners, Vets
OCTOBER 21, 2015
The company--which says it is als now offering up its service via a subscription model--lets pets owners directly contact veterinarians for questions.
TrueCar Names Dealer Service, Sales Lead
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
Santa Monica-based online auto pricing and sales site TrueCar said it is looking to improve services to dealers and strengthen relationships with its dealers, through the appointment of a new executive. TrueCar said it has named Brian Skutta as its new Executive Vice President of Dealer Sales and Service.
BetterWorks Adds Personal Services Category
NOVEMBER 10, 2011
Santa Monica-based BetterWorks , the provider of a system for managing employee benefits and perks programs headed by Paige Craig, said this morning that it has updated its product, and added a new Personal Services category to its offerings. betterworks personal services employee benefit perksREAD MORE>>.
Docstoc's ExpertCircle Looks To Become The Yelp For Business Services
MAY 22, 2013
Docstoc said it is looking to provide a similar functionality for businesses that Yelp and Angie''s List do for consumer reviews and services.
EdgeCast Launches Open Traffic Exchange Service
MAY 2, 2012
Santa Monica-based content delivery network (CDN) provider Edgecast Networks said Wednesday that it has launched its OpenCDN federation platform, which allows independent content delivery network (CDN) providers to exchange production traffic. The firm did not say if it is expecting other operators to sign on to its exchange.
Squeegy Launches On-Demand Car Washes In LA
AUGUST 21, 2015
Los Angeles-based Squeegy has recently launched into the market, with an on-demand, car wash service--currently serving the west side. squeegy ondemand wash mobile washing service marketplaceTired of driving around a dusty, dirt encrusted car, but too darn busy to find a car wash? The startup is led by Andrew Davis. READ MORE>>.
ParkMe Wins Parking Services Firm
FEBRUARY 20, 2013
The companies said that ABM Parking Services is one of the largest operators of parking facilities in the U.S., READ MORE>>.
TrueCar Launches New Website, Ad Campaign
NOVEMBER 19, 2012
advertising campaign developed by Santa Monica's DW+H, to help position it as a national brand. READ MORE>>.
Luxe Launches Post-Drinking Drive Home Service In LA
AUGUST 3, 2015
Luxe , the on-demand, luxury valet service, said today that it is expanding its service in Los Angeles with a new "Drive Home" service aimed at drinkers in LA. Luxe did not say when or if it will expand the service to its other, LA areas, which include Santa Monica, Venice, and West LA. READ MORE>>.
TYLT Lab Raises $20M For SoCal Venture Investments
MARCH 10, 2014
The company also says it will be providing advisory services for companies that it invests in. tylt labs venture capital tyltlabs investment silicon beach santa monica A new, Los Angeles-based venture capital firm-- TYLT Lab --said Monday that it has raised $20M in an initial close towards its early stage, seed investment fund.
CallFire Names Chief Revenue Officer
FEBRUARY 4, 2014
Santa Monica-based voice and text-platform provider CallFire is bolstering its executive ranks today with a new hire, saying that it has named Barbara Palmer as the company''s new Chief Revenue Officer. callfire executive chief revenue officer telephony services business phone telephone texting READ MORE>>.
Invested.in Buys MyNewFinancialAdvisor, Launches New Service
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
Santa Monica-based crowdfunding site InvestedIn is announcing this morning that it has acquired Santa Barbara-based MyNewFinancialAdvisor , and is launching a new, invite-only site for premium investment opportunities. The new service, InvestedIn Alpha, is aimed at connecting alternative investment firms to accredited investors.
BlockBeacon Releases iPhone App For Local Deals
JUNE 22, 2012
The startup--backed by Resolute.vc--also said it is expanding beyond Santa Monica to include all of California. READ MORE>>.
Amp Launches Sustainability Guide Into Beta
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
sustainability service guide directory green cleantech startup The startup says it wants to create a "Yelp for sustainability." READ MORE>>.
MamaBear Dangles Free Premium Services For Mother's Day
MAY 7, 2015
Santa Monica-based MamaBear >, the developer of a mobile app which helps mothers keep track of and manage their families, said it will offer up a free premium services to users who sign up for the service during May. All of those firms are offering similar, premium memberships to new users with varying terms. READ MORE>>.
Adomic Scores Siemer WaveMaker Prize, $160,000
OCTOBER 4, 2013
READ MORE>>. startup award conference wavemaker siemer adomic
eHarmony: More than 600,000 Marriages, New Job Matching Service
AUGUST 27, 2014
Santa Monica-based online matchmaking site eHarmony said Tuesday that it now has more than 600,000 marriages to its credit, with approximately one in seven people in America having subscribed to the service at one point or another. eHarmony also said it will be releasing its job matching service, Elevated Careers, in Q4.
Three Day Rule Adds $650,000 For Matchmaking Service
MARCH 29, 2016
The funding came from the Dallas Angels Network, as well as other angels. READ MORE>>.
Tuition.io Raises $5M For Student Loan Management
NOVEMBER 18, 2015
Santa Monica-based Tuition.io , a startup that developers technology-enabled services to help millennials pay off their student loans, refinance their student loans, and pay off debt, said this morning that it has raised $5M in a funding round. The company says it has now raised $8.2M for its service. READ MORE>>.
TZ Presents: ‘Nice Guys’ DO Finish First In Business | Fireside Chat With Clay Collins
Tech Zulu Event
JANUARY 10, 2013
Where: The ROC (Real Office Centers) 604 Arizona Ave Santa Monica, CA 90401. There will be plenty of FREE Pizza & Drinks !
Insights: Five Customer-Focused Trends for Companies in 2016
FEBRUARY 12, 2016
Today's contribution comes from Jaspar Weir , co-founder of Santa Monica-based TaskUs : Customers know what they want. READ MORE>>.


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Last week Google recently launched a new national ad campaign called "Good to Know." Subway riders might have noticed them pop up in stations and in trains, as well as major newspapers and magazines. What makes the campaign so notable, from both the perspective of design and message, is simplifying important tips and features about staying safe online...
Google's new campaign isn't interested in doing a "hard sell". Why would they be? The name is already synonymous with online search and creating a campaign focused around that single dimension would be fairly pointless. Instead, Google used the opportunity to educate people about some of the more complex features of searching, security, and privacy issues. Utilizing friendly illustration and simple instructions, Google uses metaphors and exaggerated situations to give examples of the features they use in order to provide a better, safer service to the end user.
We think the concept is effective because it leverages Google's iconic brand and uses it in a way to help educate people in context that they're not used to being educated (an advertisement). If only more companies (were able to) adopt this approach to campaigns. It's an easy blurb to read while on the train and it helps reenforce one of Google's foundation principles: user-friendliness.
Unfortunately, not everyone seems all too pleased with Google's campaign. Fairsearch.org has released their own parody ads in response. They hope to uncover Google's "real" motivations by giving you skewed search results, NOT protecting your privacy, etc. Personally, we find these counter-ads a bit petty, but we'll let you be the judge of that one. For now, however, we'll continue to enjoy Google's campaign and corresponding Good to Know site full of educational information for the non-techies.


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Ever wondered what Halo’s poster child Master Chief’s kit would look like if he was an Overwatch character? The game’s community have got you covered.
Following Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Overwatch developer Activision Blizzard, the game’s undying community has been speculating about a Halo X Overwatch crossover.
We’ve already seen a skin idea deck out Soldier 76 in Washington Justice-inspired Spartan armor, but some fans are going one step further.
As the community gets to grips with the Microsoft buyout, many are hoping to see Halo poster child, Master Chief, make it into the game in a wild collision of the two FPS franchises – with some even going so far as to start designing a possible in-game kit for the classic character.
Overwatch fan designs Master Chief skill loadout
As imaginations run free and speculate just how the Halo icon would fit into the Overwatch ecosystem, one fan has set about creating a kit for the hero.
“If Master Chief was in Overwatch would the energy sword be a decent ultimate?” asks u/McMagicMarv, showing off an image and YouTube video of the Spartan warrior tearing through the attacking squad on Horizon Lunar Colony.
Brandishing Halo Reach’s iconic sniper, he’s racked up enough points to use his ultimate: the deadly, dual-bladed Energy Sword. Ana, Soldier, and their assaulting entourage never stood a chance.
While an energy sword ultimate is a pretty good idea, many have commented saying that it may be a little too similar to Overwatch’s resident ninja, Genji‘s, infamous Dragonblade.
Other ideas include a “Spartan Laser” which “deals 300 damage in a line,” while comment jokes “I think it should just be he puts away the weapons and starts punching motherf**kers.”
A pretty popular suggestion is the idea of “active camouflage plus sword,” with one response expanding this idea to include “bonus points if backstabs give assassinations.”
Will we see Master Chief in Overwatch 2? And will we have to dodge that Energy Sword ultimate? Only time will tell, but at least we can dream, right?


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NFT Blockchain Game: ‘Splinterlands’ popularity soared to become the most frequently played NFT game
Enterprise software firm SAP joins Hyperledger blockchain project as Premier member
Blockchain project Hyperledger has announced the addition of SAP, one of the market leaders in enterprise application software, as a Premier member.
The announcement follows the recent addition of one of the most successful automotive companies Daimler AG and an American multinational financial services corporation, American Express.
As a part of the Premier membership of SAP, Dominik Heere, Vice President, Innovation Engineering, SAP Innovation Center Network, will be representing the company on the Governing Board of Hyperledger Project.
“Having support from an enterprise software and cloud leader like SAP is an important step in the right direction. The diversity of our members is a real strength, as we look to advance open blockchain technology POCs, pilots, and production deployments across many industries this year. I couldn’t be happier to see the level of collaboration and progress that is happening among our community right now,” Brian Behlendorf, Executive Director, Hyperledger, stated.
The enterprise software firm has planned to use blockchain in existing and new business scenarios for enterprises. SAP will be implementing blockchain technology to its wide range of portfolio including the SAP Ariba network to enable use cases like provenance scenarios, digital object representations or collaborative transaction execution, the release stated.
With more members joining the blockchain project, Hyperledger aims to create a common distributed ledger technology that enables organizations to build and run robust, industry-specific applications, platforms and hardware systems to support their individual business transactions.
“We believe blockchain is a transformative technology for enterprise businesses. We are committed to advancing its adoption via the creation of new standards, use cases, platforms and open applications,” Juergen Mueller, Chief Innovation Officer at SAP, said. “In joining Hyperledger, we plan to share our expertise and knowledge to help bring open distributed ledger technology to all businesses.”


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Wineries have enjoyed new business opportunities in Michigan's first full year under a new law regulating shipments of wine directly to customers.
The state Liquor Control Commission reports 451 wineries and wine distribution companies have received permits and sold wine through the mail to Michigan customers.
A report released today in The Detroit News says most are from California, followed by Michigan's 40 homegrown producers.
No winery has approached the 1,500-case annual limit on direct shipping that some feared would be too restrictive.
The U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 struck down Michigan's former policy of allowing only in-state wineries to ship directly to Michigan residents.


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Here’s something for West End residents and izakaya afficionados to add to your schedules: an ever-popular local izakaya chain will hold its official launch next month.
Although we previously reported that Guu izakaya will be opening a new location in the Davie Village, spokeperson Yasumi Yajima confirmed today (January 25) the Georgia Straight that the grand opening will be held at at 1239 Davie Street on February 11.
The timing of the restaurant's debut is rather fitting as the location will be moon-themed and the date falls in the wake of the Lunar New Year on February 5.
Although the Japanese New Year had been changed to January 1 in the late 1800s due to the adoption of the Western calendar, some Japanese traditions harken back to previous lunar-based calendars.
The restaurant takes over the space, which is slightly set back from and raised above street level, that has remained empty since Upper Deck Kitchen and Taphouse was shut down back in March 2017.
This new location also helps to compensate for the loss of Guu Kobachi, which closed in September at 735 Denman Street due to the block undergoing redevelopment.
This latest addition will join four other locations in Vancouver and one in Toronto.
Meanwhile, Japanese cuisine fans awaiting that opening can also consider tiding themselves over with Guu Garden's Dine Out Vancouver 2019 menu, which continues until February 4.
This year, Guu Garden (located at 888 Nelson Street) has chosen the theme “going back to the source” for their Dine Out menu, with a selection of nine izakaya dishes to choose three from, for lunch or dinner.
Among the options are a deep-fried breaded chestnut and kabocha korokke, steamed salmon and mussels saka-mushi with garlic herb butter, grilled whole sanma mackerel sushi, a dashi-based lamb curry hotpot, or whole quail karaage with matcha milk salt.
Full details are available at the Guu website.


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Medplus, Nigeria’s leading health and beauty retail company committed to helping Nigerians live and feel good, officially launched a new pharmaceutical outlet on Monday, 17 February 2019 at the Abeni Plaza, Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria Island, Lagos.
With its stated mission to provide a holistic approach to healthcare among consumers by caring for the mind, body and spirit, the new outlet further promotes the brand’s commitment to providing the best products and services in different parts of the state, while also serving to improve healthcare services in the country.
Speaking with guests during the launch, Senami Atika, Marketing Manager, Medplus Nigeria, expressed her happiness about the new store, stating that the outlet will provide residents in Ligali and its environs better access to affordable health and beauty products.
“With over 50 stores nationwide, we are focused on building a solid healthcare and beauty foundation for our customers to create better lives for them and improve the community at large. The creation of this new outlet is to ensure that customers can have more access to us without any hassle. Medplus is here to offer a holistic approach with the possibility to take advantage of affordable health and beauty products with access nationwide,” she said.
During the ceremony, the company also provided free health check for customers, as it continues to set new standards for sustainable healthcare by adopting new practices to build a desirable wellness and fitness future. Recently, the brand also partnered with Keystone Bank to allow female customers with the Bank’s Pink debit card get a 10 percent discount off all drug purchases and five percent discount off non-drug purchases in any of its pharmacies nationwide.
Medplus Limited was incorporated as the first-ever retail pharmaceutical company in Nigeria in 1993, and has continued to proffer solutions to the challenge posed in accessing quality, genuine healthcare, and beauty products in Nigeria.


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INTRALOT announces that the Government of Bulgaria has passed legislation that amends the local gambling law, according to which all lottery-type of games, except for KENO type of games, are organized under a State Monopoly. As a consequence, three of the six existing licenses held by Eurobet Ltd, a 49% subsidiary of INTRALOT Group, have been terminated by Law on 21.02.2020. The imposition by law of a monopoly regime in the gaming market may contradict the monopoly provisions of the Bulgarian Constitution.
INTRALOT will immediately set in motion a plan in order to operate through new licenses and transform its corporate presence in the Bulgarian gambling market, within the provisions of the new Gambling Act across KENO, retail and online Betting markets.
In addition, INTRALOT informs that the Bulgarian State Gambling Commission (SGC) notified both Eurobet Ltd and Eurofootball Ltd, INTRALOT’s associate with a 49% ownership, for a claim of retrospective State Fees amounting to BGN 74.4m and BGN 328.9m, respectively. Given that the payment of State Fees for both companies has always been in accordance with the provisions of the Gambling Act and the approved regulations by the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance, it is deemed that the above claims are unfounded and unjustified and both companies will appeal before the local Administrative Courts.
In order to protect their interests, both companies, if required, will exercise all their additional legal rights, including claims for indemnification, before local and / or European and international forums and / or courts.
Finally, it is noted that the conditions under which Eurofootball Ltd was fully consolidated, according to IFRS 10, in the financial statements of INTRALOT Group have ceased from 5.12.2019 onwards and the company since then is consolidated under the equity method.


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Annual charity fashion show set for take off
A MUM-OF-FOUR is holding an inspirational fashion show to raise money for a brand new centre for people living with cancer.
Margo Cornish, northwest ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust, will host her Runway on the Runway show, first held in 2013, at Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Centre in June.
And the 50 models who will strut their stuff on the five catwalks will be men and women undergoing treatment for the disease themselves, or who have done in the past.
The money raised will go towards the new £6m Maggie’s Centre at The Christie, which will open in April.
The centre will provide free practical, emotional and social support and is one of a number of similar centres at NHS cancer hospitals in the UK and abroad.
Margo, who lives on Withinlee Road, Prestbury, with husband Charlie Cornish, CEO of the Manchester Airport Group, and daughter, Fiona, 17, said: “There is little awareness about young people with cancer. I have three daughters myself and your teenage years are not a good time to be sick. Lots of young people are doing selfies and going through cancer treatment and feeling really rubbish about themselves.”
Models at the show will all have makeovers and get to wear a range of clothes from high street fashion designers.
Margo said: “I just want the models to feel amazing.”
To model in the show, you must be either having treatment for cancer or have done so.
To nominate yourself or someone else as a model, or to purchase tickets, available at the end of this month, go to maggiesontherunway. com.
The show will take place on Saturday, June 11.
●● Mottram St Andrew Primary Academy pupils Tom, Aurelia, Lance and Deacon give their presentation
●● Margo Cornish, above, and inset with one of the models at the Runway on the Runway Fashion Show


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Iwig Family Dairy has filed for bankruptcy but, as part of its reorganization plan, will continue to operate its Lawrence and Topeka retail stores.
Increasing sales at the Lawrence store — bemoaned by some for its difficult-to-access location at 1901 Massachusetts St. — is critical to the dairy pulling through the bankruptcy, owner Tim Iwig said.
“We have to drive people to the Lawrence store,” he said. “And if they refuse to go to that store, then we’ve got to find another location that works.”
Iwig, whose multigeneration family dairy is located in Tecumseh, filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, district of Kansas. A few days earlier, on Nov. 12, Kaw Valley Bank filed a petition for foreclosure against Iwig, according to Shawnee County court documents.
Iwig’s bankruptcy petition indicates the dairy had $696,000 in assets and $1.17 million in liabilities.
The dairy faced foreclosure in 2010 but rallied, in part by enlisting members of the public to buy shares in the company.
According to the bankruptcy petition, many Lawrence residents are among at least 150 creditors holding “unsecured nonpriority” claims from stock purchases in 2010 and 2011. Those purchases ranged from $500 to several thousand dollars each, according to the petition.
“Our understanding is they’ll still be shareholders after we come through the bankruptcy,” Iwig said. “We should come through the bankruptcy healthier than we are now, so they should be in a better position.”
Chapter 12 is the portion of the U.S. bankruptcy code that provides for adjustments of debts of a family farmer or family fisherman.
A Chapter 12 plan usually lasts three to five years, and must provide for full payment of all priority claims, according to the U.S. Courts description of the law. The debtor is not required to pay unsecured claims in full as long as the plan calls for all disposable income to be committed to payments and for creditors to receive at least as much as they would if the debtor’s nonexempt assets were liquidated under Chapter 7.
The dairy has operated a retail store at 724 SW Gage Boulevard in Topeka since 2010. Lawrence’s Iwig Dairy Store opened this spring, selling milk, butter, ice cream and a number of grocery products from other local sources.
Fans praise the farm-fresh milk and other dairy products, but not enough of them are coming in to buy it, Iwig said. He said the reopening of the Dillons store across the street hasn’t made a difference one way or the other.
Iwig said selling his milk through larger grocery stores was not a viable solution because it involves more time and work to coordinate for a smaller profit margin.
Iwig said one of the main goals of his reorganization plan is marketing the Lawrence store and, if he found a better location that was feasible, possibly moving.
“So far, the Lawrence store is running behind Topeka pretty measurably,” he said. “My store over on Gage does gangbusters. I don’t know if it’s our location or exactly what it is. If anybody has suggestions, I wish they’d make them if they don’t like it where it is.”
Iwig said he will continue to make milk in the old-fashioned method he has, even though it comes at a higher cost to produce — a pinch felt especially sharply during two years of drought, high feed prices and low milk prices.
He feeds his cattle alfalfa hay from an area farmer who does not treat the crop with Roundup, he said. They also eat spent grain from Free State Brewery and apple waste from Louisburg Cider Mill, which are cheaper than corn right now but still costly to haul.
He also uses vat pasteurization. The low-temperature method takes longer and costs more than the quick, high-heat pasteurization that almost all other dairies use, but Iwig believes it results in a product with flavor and nutrients closer to that of raw milk.
Finally, it’s sold in earth-friendly glass bottles.
“Our milk is head and shoulders above any other milk on the market,” he said.
On Wednesday, Iwig said he hoped hard work would help enable his business to emerge from bankruptcy healthier than it is now.
“The bottom line is, we’re going to keep on going stronger than ever and keep right on plugging away,” he said.


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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A group of women have filed a class-action lawsuit urging New York lawmakers to put an end to taxes on tampons.
The suit alleges that a state tax on tampons creates an unfair standard when it comes to defining medical devices that are specifically designed for women.
"Rogaine, foot powder, dandruff shampoo, Chapstick, facial wash, adult diapers, and incontinence pads are not taxed. Tampons and sanitary pads are," the group said in a release.
Since New York provides tax exemptions on medical devices, not classifying tampons as a medical device creates an unfair double standard which slights women, the groups asserted.
"Tampons and sanitary pads are a necessity for women, not a luxury. There is no way these products would be taxed if men had to use them," said Zoe Salzman, a lawyer for the women, said in a release.
Margo Seibert, an actor and co-founder of Racket, mathematician/data scientist Catherine O'Neil, Jennifer Moore, a children's program coordinator and photographer Natalie Brasington filed the joint suit. Racket is a women's advocacy group which encourages women to embrace their periods while promoting menstrual cycle resources and wellness.
The suit also looks to claim millions in restitution for women 'targeted by the illegal sales tax,' the group stated.
"It's time for New York to stop taxing women for being women," said Ilann M. Maazel, lead counsel, said. "We hope this case will be the beginning of the end of the Tampon Tax in this country."
The 'Tampon Tax' issue has been hotly debated as a women's rights initiative across the country and even globally, with states like Connecticut, Illinois and Utah also considering changes in legislation.
for more features.


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One door closes, another one opens? An unlikeliest of rumors has been doing the rounds lately, claiming that Microsoft is gearing up to launch an Android phone.
This talk came right around we got an official confirmation from Redmond that Surface Phone is no longer on the horizon. However, the source is an alleged Microsoft Store employee who revealed these details in a conversation where no other specifics were provided.
Basically, it is being claimed that the software titan wants to replace Windows 10 Mobile with Android, in order to remain an active player in the mobile industry with its own line of devices.
“We will be creating a new line of phones for Microsoft phones. It’s like a new edition for Microsoft phones. It’s gonna be powered by Android that’s for sure.”
You may be aware, of course, that Windows 10 Mobile is now in maintenance mode, and support for this mobile operating system is projected to come to an end in July 2019 — a year from now.
The company meanwhile is making a mobile push in the form of apps and services that it releases for competing platforms, iOS and Android. While the upcoming Andromeda, while new hardware, is actually a new type of mobile device, not exactly a smartphone.
All this, more or less, means that Microsoft is out the mobile hardware game.
However, while it has everything in place to power such an Android phone, the app and expertise necessary, it still is important not to get our hopes too high.
And that’s because Microsoft Store workers have been known to share inaccurate information in the past about products. Any detail that comes this way should be taken with a generous helping of salt, as the company rarely provides access to such details to its Store staff.
Not jus that, Redmond also sees Windows 10 as the future and wants to have it installed on all devices that it launches. The company has said this much on multiple occasions.
Let’s file this under rumors for now.
Extremely unlikely rumors.


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Doron Myersdorf, CEO instant-charging battery startup StoreDot, said that "smoothing out" means that phones will reorder incoming commands to make sure not all of them are done in parallel.
Singapore Polytechnic student Kirstin Yip, 19, who has owned three iPhones, including the 6s and 7 models, said: "As a millenial, I'm always on my phone, so fast performance is important to me".
While Apple has now admitted this is an issue, customers will rightly be angry it's taken the company so long to come clean.
REUTERS/Jason ReedA new Rose Gold iPhone 7 Plus with dual cameras is shown in Australian's flagship Apple store in Sydney, September 16, 2016 as the iPhone 7 range goes on sale for the first time.
"Our goal is to deliver the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices". The reports are particularly troubling because any perceived slowdowns by iPhone users might tempt owners to upgrade their entire device instead of replace the battery.
In a statement released to The Verge, Apple said it was throttling to prevent devices from "unexpectedly shutting down" and "to protect its electronic components".More news: Sen. Al Franken to resign January 2 over sexual misconduct allegations
So, rather than planned obsolescence as many had assumed, it turns out there's a good reason for throttling performance.
"Last year we released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions", Apple said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Now affected models are iPhone 7, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE, with other models potentially receiving the same feature in the future.
Prof Subodh added that a typical lithium-ion battery is rated up to a thousand charging cycles, which averages to a battery life of about three years if a phone is charged once a day.
Apple has acknowledged that the company slows the operations of older phones to help device batteries continue to perform as they age.
However, because Apple also markets itself as one of the best in terms of customer service, an additional support for battery fix should not be as drastic. Or will they still upgrade to a new iPhone?


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‘Marvellous’ response to new baby store in Worthing town centre
A new baby store has opened in Worthing town centre and has had a ‘marvellous’ response.
Marc Coxshaw and Clare Banbury have opened Precious Little Things in Montague Quarter Shopping Centre, near to TK Maxx.
The couple, who live in Terringes Avenue, Worthing said: “We sell everything, from clothing through to pushchairs and travel systems and furniture, all for your Precious Little Thing.
“We’ve had a marvellous response since we opened.
“People have been coming through the doors saying it’s so nice to finally see a new ‘Mothercare’ in effect in Worthing town centre and how lovely it is to come in and trial the different travel systems and pushchairs.”
Marc and Clare said the lockdown had gone on for ‘far too long’ and parents have had to buy pushchairs, travel systems and furniture online – without seeing it first.
Being able to come in and try something has made a huge difference, they added, and has led parents to discard items they have bought online.
To find out more about Precious Little Things, visit Precious-Little-Things.co.uk.


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Unconfirmed reports point to Apple working on a 4-Inch budget variant of the iPhone 6.
Timothy Arcuri, an Analyst with the Comen and Company Group, issued a note that the Cupertino Tech Giant was working on a new 4-Inch iPhone that could be unveiled in 2015.
Arcuri further added that it is possible that Apple could launch three new version of the iPhone in 2015.
The 4-Inch iPhone could have technical specifications closely similar to those of the iPhone 5S. The device is however, likely have curved screen edges, which is a predominant feature of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
If the rumors prove to be true, the 4-Inch iPhone could as well be the successor of the iPhone 5c. Purpose-built low cost components sourced from Qualcomm could be used to keep the price of the device low.
Apple has always been an advocate for smaller displays specifically to enable one-handed operations. A 4-inch display does indeed make one-handed operations a complete delight.
Consumers have however, showed a preference for larger displays and Apple in 2014 made a shift to a larger display through the iPhone 6 Plus.
While the iPhone 6 Plus has performed well, Apple may continue offering 4-Inch iPhones but with faster internal components.
The reports of a budget iPhone seems inconsistent with an earlier report that buyers shouldn’t be expecting cheaper iPhones anytime soon.


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Worried about the flood of plastic packaging that ends up in the ocean, Ari Jónsson, a young Icelandic design student, came up with the idea of creating a biodegradable bottle from seaweed.
The bottle, made from agar – itself made from seaweed – is solid when full but decomposes once empty. Simple!
Every year, 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean. The equivalent of the contents of an entire garbage truck every minute... Estimates suggest there are already approximately 150 million tonnes of plastic in the world’s seas!
Worried about these alarming findings, a young Icelandic student studying at the arts academy in Reykjavik came up with an idea: why not create biodegradable and even edible bottles?
It was in March, at the DesignMarch festival in the Icelandic capital, that Ari Jónsson presented his project – bottles made from agar. Well known to cooks, it’s a natural jelly-like substance derived from seaweed.
When added to water, the powdered agar turns to a jelly that can be molded into the shape of a container. When filled, it solidifies in the shape of a bottle; and when emptied, it decomposes naturally... or as agar is edible, can even be eaten!
It’s a striking invention. An original response to the issue of plastic waste that far too often ends up in the ocean’s depths.
Oceans of plastic : an alarming report
In an enlightening report released in early 2016 that was based on some alarming findings, the World Economic Forum raises the issue of a "new plastics economy".
We produce twenty times more plastic now than fifty years ago, in particular for packaging (26% of the total plastic used). Plastic production shot up from 15 million tonnes in 1964 to 311 million tonnes in 2014. And it is likely to double in the next twenty years.
95% of plastic packaging is lost after being used once, only 14% is collected for recycling. That’s a much lower percentage than for paper (58%) or metal (70-90%) according to the same study.
If nothing is done, the report states that by 2025 our oceans will contain one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish - and by 2050, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish!
Associations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Surfrider Foundation are ringing the alarm bells and supporting innovative alternatives.
With his promising invention, Ari Jónsson is following in the footsteps of those who are considering more environmentally friendly and sustainable containers. For example Algopack, a small business in Saint-Malo, which manufactures a rigid material from waste brown algae; and the London based Skipping Rocks Lab collective, which created the Ooho! Concept - a container for drinking or eating.
The new plastics economy is ready to roll!
Main picture: Ari Jónsson


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External batteries don’t have to look good. They’re big chunks of lithium-polymer wrapped in plastic and USB ports. But there’s no reason that they shouldn’t! Check out this Aukey 12000mAh battery, for example: nothing special, nothing fancy, just clean lines, a black case, and an obvious purpose. If you squint it kind of looks like an obelisk from 2001. Today Amazon has a coupon that drops the already-reasonable $24.99 price down to $17.99 – that’s just .15 cents per milliamp-hour!
[Deal Alert] Snag This Snazzy 12000mAh Aukey External Battery For Just $18 With An Amazon Coupon was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
from Android Police – Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets http://ift.tt/1Hftbad


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This article is more than 1 year old
China reminds world shock and ore can hurt tech supply chains
Nice chip and EV factories you're building there. Would be a shame if they couldn't get any rare earths to work with
China has immense leverage over technology supply chains due to the happy accident that its territories contain most of the rare earths needed to manufacture electronics and batteries, and that it dominates industries that ready them for use.
The Middle Kingdom reminded the world of that fact after Australia's minister for resources, Madeleine King, on Tuesday delivered a speech in which she noted China's dominance:
King went on to note that in 2021 China produced 168 kilotonnes of rare earth oxide equivalent, while the next largest producer – the USA – produced 43 kilotonnes. China also dominates the rare earth magnet industry, producing 174 kilotonnes in 2021. The world's second most prolific producer, Japan, commands less than nine percent of the market.
"It is a fact that the scale of China's manufacturing and demand has played a key role in driving down the cost of crucial technologies like solar photovoltaics, batteries and electric motors," the minister said. "But this level of supply chain concentration, regardless of where the concentration points lie, leads to significant vulnerabilities which have been all too apparent in recent years."
The minister called for diversification of rare earth supply chains. She noted that Australia is accelerating development of its own substantial deposits and talking to Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, India "and many others" about how they can access them.
Speaking to Bloomberg, King added that even with the initiatives described above, China will remain the planet's dominant source of all things rare earth.
- Pro-China crew ramps up disinfo ahead of US midterms. Not that anyone's falling for it
- Junk cellphones on Earth would stack higher than the International Space Station
- China discovers unknown mineral on the moon, names it Changesite-(Y)
- China is trolling rare-earth miners online and the Pentagon isn't happy
Beijing noticed King's speech and remarks, and foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded by saying "Countries with critical mineral resources need to play a positive role in keeping relevant industrial and supply chains safe, secure and stable."
"No one should use economy as a political tool or weapon, destabilize the global industrial and supply chains or punch the existing world economic system," he added, before stating China will do its bit to "keep the world economy and international trade stable and diversified."
And indeed China will – for as long as it makes sense to do so.
But current Chinese policy has adopted the notion of "dual circulation" – a plan to increase both exports and domestic consumption, so the nation is less reliant on exports for growth.
The time may come where China feels it can prioritize local consumers of rare earths. Consider electric vehicles – a tech considered to be an important contributor to decarbonizing the world economy. Crimping rare earth exports could make it harder for nations to meet emissions reductions targets, even as the economics of relying on fossil fuels become onerous.
And then there's the billions the US and Europe have invested in chipmaking plants, which will rely on availability of rare earths.
China has not yet declared it could use shock and ore tactics. And it is currently constrained from doing so by the need to keep export-oriented industries humming so its populace has jobs – and the Communist Party can deliver on promises to improve the standard of living.
But King's and Zhao's remarks make it plain that China could, if it wished, do mighty damage to global supply chains. Just like the US has done to China's by restricting the import of many advanced technologies. ®


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New car park in Birmingham finds a space for you
There is now a solution to the age old problem of never being able to find a space when you go into a car park.
Birmingham's newest sky scraper, The Cube, has one of the most sophisticated car parks in the world - the cars park themselves.
Despite costing more than £2mn, Neil Edington, of The Cube, said the automatic system was put in to save retail frontage.
And could the car park lose your car? Not according to the designers, Andrew Smith of WOHR Car Parking Systems, because each person has their own unique entry key.
Peter Plisner reports.
27 Sep 2010


text: SpyHunter 2 Has Gone Out the DoorMidway Games Inc. a leading software industry publisher and developer, announced today that SpyHunter 2, the high-speed, mission-based, action/combat racing game today has shipped for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft(R). Midway Games Inc. also announced today that the first all-new remake of its popular 1980s action-racing game, SpyHunter(R) has sold through more than 1.6 million units worldwide across all platforms since its late-September 2001 launch and continues to sell well as part of SCEAs "Greatest Hits" and Microsofts "Platinum Hits" programs. "The unique world of SpyHunter expands in SpyHunter 2, with an all-new devastatingly powerful and customizable G-8155 interceptor with brand-new vehicle transformations and the addition of a mysterious female agent," said Mark Beaumont, senior vice president - entertainment, Midway. "We are excited that the gaming community fully embraced the last edition of SpyHunter and we are confident the latest iteration, SpyHunter 2, will be equally well received." SpyHunter 2 is a powerful progression in the mission to save the world from the sinister grip of the global criminal terrorist group, Nostra. SpyHunter 2 features an all-new, extremely powerful and customizable G-8155 Interceptor with new vehicle transformations such as an off-road 4-wheel drive vehicle and a snow ski. In addition, the gameplay includes upgradable offensive and defensive weaponry, as players fend off enemy vehicles throughout massive levels set across enormous regions. A new mysterious, sexy female agent has also been added to the mix to complement the intensity of SpyHunter 2s fast-paced action. SpyHunter 2 introduces an all-new terrorist threat and it is up to Alec Sects to command the worlds most sophisticated super spy vehicle to save the world. Exclusive weaponry such as an auto-tracking turret and an indestructible armored shield are combined with landmines and oil slicks for an impressive defense that will immerse gamers in 16 action-packed levels set across four gigantic regions. Each region is interactive and dynamic, allowing players to choose their own paths and fight against giant end-of-mission bosses, including eight all-new Nostra enemies. The excitement also continues with the latest version of the Interceptors online computer, Leonie 2.0, designed to aid in mission-critical tactics and information. In addition to incredible and continuing sales of the SpyHunter videogame released in fall 2001 and the highly anticipated release of SpyHunter 2, Universal Pictures has obtained an option to the rights to develop the SpyHunter(R) videogame franchise into a major live action motion picture. Universal has signed The Rock to portray Alec Sects, commander of the worlds most sophisticated spy vehicle, the G-8155 Interceptor, and are eyeing to begin production in 2004 with a summer 2005 release.


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Alicia Bibb, the owner of Studio on Sixth, 215 S 6th St., was feeling the holiday spirit Saturday as people checked out her store during the kickoff for Downtown Springfield Inc.’s Old Capitol Holiday Walks 2017.
Bibb was dressed as Buddy, the character from the movie “Elf.” She offered visitors candy and answered questions about the eclectic merchandise in the store. She pointed out that except for the women’s clothing, everything in the store is handmade.
“Everything is going fantastic,” Bibb said. “The customers are so much fun. I’m very thankful for all the Springfield residents and visitors who are shopping with us today and shopping local.”
Lisa Clemmons Stott, executive director of Downtown Springfield Inc., said the holiday walks are fun for the entire family.
In addition to one-of-a-kind gifts, the walks include horse-drawn carriage rides and visits with Santa in the Old State Capitol. More than 40 storefronts, including vacant buildings, will be decorated for the events.
The holiday walks will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays until Dec. 20.
“We have all of these programmed activities to kind of go back to downtown’s traditional historic Christmas. We have lights, decorations, window dressing, all those types of things,” Stott said.
With temperatures hovering near the 60-degree mark Saturday afternoon, it was hard to believe that Christmas was just around the corner.
Springfield resident Alyssa Tusek, who was at the walk with her two daughters, ages 5 and 2, said the warm weather was a welcome relief.
“You can’t take as much time to enjoy everything when it’s freezing cold and you have the kids with you,” Tusek said.
Bibb agreed that the warm weather can be an added draw for the Saturday walks.
“Saturday is different because it’s a nice family day. So, today’s weather is probably helping. There’s no rain and it’s not blustery cold. For the Wednesday night holiday walks, the colder it is, the more people come out.”
Getting people to come out and shop in downtown Springfield is the overall goal of the walks. Saturday was Small Business Saturday, which is a national effort to get people to shop at smaller, local stores as opposed to the big box stores.
“We have a lot of independent business owners,” Stott said. “They really take the lead in the community. Many of them are from here. They know what people like. If you want to buy something unique, if you want to buy something that’s different, you can find it downtown.”
Stott said downtown Springfield has at least 10 locations that sell women’s clothing, a clock store, bookstores and record stores.
“There is a lot of variety down here. A lot of times, people haven’t realized (the downtown) has really come back in the last couple of years,” Stott said.
Stott said there will be free street parking during the holiday walks.
“If you’re the type of person who likes to know where you’re going to park, you park in the underground parking and it’s only 75 cents for a half hour,” Stott said.
For more information on the holiday walks, go to Downtown Springfield Inc.’s website at downtownspringfield.org.
–Contact John Reynolds: firstname.lastname@example.org, 788-1524, twitter.com/JohnReynoldsSJR.


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Motor City: The big news in the auto world was that Tesla (TSLA) topped the market value of General Motors (GM). That means the car company that gets massive taxpayer subsidies is now worth more than the car company taxpayers bailed out a few years ago. Welcome to the world of crony capitalism.
On Monday, Tesla’s stock closed at $312.39, which meant the startup electric car company, which sold a grand total of fewer than 80,000 cars last year, was worth more than GM, which sold 80,000 Chevy Silverados every eight weeks. (Tesla’s market cap edged below GM’s on Tuesday.)
Is this a case of irrational exuberance gripping investors? Or the electric car version of the 1990s internet bubble? Is the future of Tesla really that bright? We tend not to second guess the wisdom of the markets to get things right, at least over the long term.
But it’s worth noting that whatever Tesla’s growth potential, at the moment the company is heavily reliant on taxpayer support.
For every Tesla car sold (up to No. 200,000), federal taxpayers kick in $7,500 to lower the costs. State taxpayers in a multitude of states pony up still more. In Colorado, they contribute another $5,000 to the electric car kitty, in California, it’s $2,500.
When the Los Angeles Times crunched the numbers two years ago, it found that Tesla buyers had received more than $284 million in federal tax incentives and more than $38 million in California rebates. And that was before Tesla’s banner 2016 year.
The taxpayer help only starts there. Tesla also collects hundreds of millions from competing automakers by selling environmental credits in California and more than half a dozen other states to car companies that can’t meet the states’ “zero emissions” sales mandates.
Plus, Nevada ponied up $1.3 billion in incentives to convince Tesla to build its huge battery factory near Reno.
And this doesn’t include the fact that electric car owners don’t pay into the Highway Trust Fund — which is funded by the per-gallon tax on gasoline and pays for road construction and upkeep.
Whether Tesla can survive without all this taxpayer largesse isn’t altogether clear. When Edmunds looked at the electric car market as a whole, it concluded that without federal and state tax credits, “this market is likely to crash.”
As evidence, Edmunds points to Georgia, where EV sales plummeted by more than 80% immediately after the state canceled its $5,000 tax credit in 2015. Tesla sales were far less impacted, but then again, Tesla was only selling luxury cars at the time, and buyers could still get the $7,500 federal credit.
Whatever the impact these subsidies have on Tesla, there is no good reason for taxpayers to continue subsidizing electric cars made by it, or any other car company.
First, there’s the fact that these taxpayer subsidies are nothing more than welfare for the rich. A study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 90% of electric car subsidies go to the top 20% of households.
Second, the supposed environmental benefits of electric cars have been vastly — and we mean vastly — oversold.
While they might emit “zero emissions” while on the road, electric cars are barely any cleaner than good-old internal combustion engine cars when you look at the complete environmental impact picture. Getting the materials to make lithium ion batteries, for example, is an extremely dirty business, and the electricity to recharge the batteries most likely comes from power plant fueled by coal or some other fossil fuel.
Even if a midsize EV manages to last 20 years and 150,000 miles, total CO2 emissions would be just 19% less than a comparable gas-powered car, according to an analysis by Arthur D. Little.
That is a lot of welfare-for-the-rich for very little environmental benefit.
This isn’t to say that traditional automakers don’t get government assistance. Bailing out GM cost taxpayers $11.3 billion, according to the Treasury Department. But adding more crony capitalism to the books isn’t the answer. Getting rid of all forms of corporate welfare is. If that means Tesla’s valuation comes back down to Earth, so be it.


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AR wearable startup Lumus announced Monday the close of a $45 million Series C funding round led by Taiwanese ODM company Quanta Computer with participation from Taiwanese phone maker HTC. Shanda Group and Crystal-Optech had previously dropped $15 million on the company to open the round.
“This new funding will help Lumus continue to scale up our R&D and production in response to the growing demand from companies creating new augmented reality and mixed reality applications, including consumer electronics and smart eyeglasses,” says Lumus CEO Ben Weinberger. “We also plan to ramp up our marketing efforts in order to realize and capture the tremendous potential of our unique technology to re-envision reality in the booming AR industry.”
Lumus makes see-through display optics, basically giving you the ability to check email, your schedules and do search in your glasses by using motion detection technology. They also boast a wide field of view in a natural looking set of frames by using a patented micro-projector to display images from the side of your frames onto the lenses themselves.
The lens contains thin transparent reflectors, which they have patented and dubbed the “Light-Guide Optical Element.” They also promise true color and suitable brightness even in daylight, something the skeptical buyer should want to see to believe.
Lumus is selling in a market jaded by Google Glass, but they could end up with better timing than Google’s concept. Investments in VR and AR are soaring, betting investors will want to take the bare bolts of the technology to apply it to a number of industries like healthtech or aviation. There could be as many as 3.4 million AR-infused smart glasses by 2020, which meshes with Technavio‘s growth forecast of 141% by 2020.
One of the companies mentioned as an industry leader in the Technavio report, Atheer, is also a declared partner for Lumus.
“We are very committed to AR/VR,” says David Chang, COO of HTC, which is likely hunting for technology that will continue to build on their HTC Vive VR device. “Our current investment is aligned with HTC’s natural extension into augmented reality following our successful VIVE launch earlier this year.”
“AR/VR is well aligned with our growth strategy and we’re pleased to invest in the Lumus optics solution for augmented reality,” said Quanta President C.C. Leung. “This is pioneering technology, and we have great confidence in Lumus as an innovator and industry leader for transparent optical displays in the AR market.”
Founded in 2000 by Yaakov Amitai, Lumus maintains its headquarters in Rehovot, Israel and has 70 employees.